my last will and testament before the act passed in the
first year of the reign of Her present Majesty, (whom God long
preserve,) entitled 'An Act for the Amendment of the Law with respect to
Wills,' shall have come into operation, do make this my last will and
testament; that is to say," &c. &c.: and he proceeded, after giving some
trifling mementoes to his friends, to bequeath all his property to his
two executors, in trust for his sisters. He directed that his coffin
should not be closed till after decay should have visibly commenced in
his body; a precaution against the possibility of premature interment:
which he always regarded with peculiar apprehension. He proceeded to
direct that he should be buried in the burying-ground around the Temple
church, a right which he always contended was possessed by every member
of the Inn. With this request, however, it was impossible for the
Benchers to comply, though anxious, by every means in their power, to do
honour to his memory. He was, therefore, buried, on the 24th December,
1845, at Kensal Green. Had it been deemed desirable by his brothers and
executors, a great number of the members of the bar would have attended
his funeral. As it was, however, sixteen only of those most intimate
with him followed his remains to their last resting-place. A small
stone, placed at the head of his grave, merely mentions his name, age,
and profession, and the day of his death; and adds, that a tablet to his
memory is erected in the Temple church. On the ensuing Sunday, the
Benchers of the Inner Temple caused the staff, or pole, surmounted with
the arms of the Inn, carved in silver, and which is always borne before
the Benchers into church, and placed at the corner of their pew, to be
covered with crape, and the vergers to wear scarves; a tribute of
respect which had never before then, I believe, been paid to any but
deceased Benchers. They expressed anxiety to pay every honour to the
memory of so distinguished a member of the Inn, and cordially assented
to the request that a tablet should be placed in the Triforium, where
one of white marble now stands, bearing the following fitting
inscription, written by his friend, Mr. Phillimore, of the Oxford
circuit:--

JOH: GVL: SMITH

IN. STVDIIS. HVMANITATIS. AC. LITTERARVM.
A. PVERITIA. SUMMA. LAVDE. VERSATO.
LEGVM. ET. CONSVETVDINIS. ANGLIAE.
TVM. JVRIS. NEGOTIANTIBVS PROPRII.
PERITISSIMO. VT. SCRIPTA. QVAE. MAGNAM